Holder for mounting a cable on a utility pole



Nov. 9, 19

65 c. o. LARsoN 3,216 684 BY fw?, mal f/g, MM Ai'fys United StatesPatent O 3,216,684 HOLDER FUR MOUNTlNG A CABLE ON A UTILITY POLE Charles0. Larson, Sterling, lill., assignor to Chas. 0. Larson Co., Sterling,Ill., a corporation of illinois Filed .lune 19, 1964, Ser. No. 376,347 4Claims. (Cl. 248-71) This invention relates to improved fasteners, andparticularly to a holder for mounting a cable or the like on a utilitypole or the like.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a holderof the type set forth comprising a `fastener member and a clampingmember, the fastening member including an elongated shank having one endthereof pointed for driving into an associated utility pole lformounting the holder thereon, a generally U-shaped hook at the other endof the shank opening toward the pointed end thereof, the surface on theouter portion of the hook disposed the greatest distance from the shankbeing substantially in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the shankand providing `a drive surface for driving the shank into the associatedutility pole, the clamping member being generally U-shaped and includinga iirst leg and a second leg and a connecting portion interconnectingthe legs, the major internal dimension of the connecting portion beingslightly greater than the major dimension of the associated cable toreceive the cable therein and between the legs, the first leg extendingoutwardly beyond the connecting portion a distance equal to at leastabout the major internal dimension, an eye on the outer end of the firstleg receiving the shank therethrough, the second leg extending outwardlybeyond the eye and engaging in the hook, the connecting portion beingbendable and resilient so that as the shank is driven into an associatedutility pole with a cable in the connecting portion and the eye againstthe utility pole the hook urges the legs toward each other to bend theconnecting legs toward each other to bend the connecting portion aboutthe cable to grip the cable between the connection portion and the legs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved holderof the type set forth which more firmly grasps and more securely fastensan associated cable to an associated utility pole.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved holder ofthe type set forth which can be driven into the associated utility polewith greater safety to the user, the holder including a connectingportion spaced well away from the drive surface so that if the usermisdirects a blow aimed at the drive surface, he will not strike hishand that is holding and steadying the holder during the drivingoperation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved holderof the type set forth wherein the clamping member can be easily openedand readily disassembled with respect to the fastening member tolfacilitate the insertion of an associated cable therein and the removalof an associated cable therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved holder ofthe type set forth which can be more easily driven since the drivesurface thereof is in longitudinal alignment with the longitudinal axisof the shank to be driven into the utility pole, the longitudinal axesof the legs of the clamping member being disposed substantially normalto the longitudinal axis of the shank so that all parts are in optimumaligned positions during the driving thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved holderof the type set forth which can be readily formed of wire or rod usingstandard forming and bending operations, thereby to provide aneconomical yet strong construction therefor.

Patented Nov. 9, 1965 ICC Further features of the invention pertain tothe particular arrangement of the parts of the holder whereby theabove-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best beunderstood by reference to the following specification taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a horizontal view through a utility pole and a cable mountedthereon, the cable being held in position by means of a holder rnade inaccordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention,the holder being shown in an intermedate driven position thereof;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the holder illustrated in FIG. 1 as seen fromthe left of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a view of the parts of FIG. l after the holder has been drivento the fully mounted position thereof, the clamping member firmlyclamping the cable on the associated utility pole; and v FIG. 4 is aplan view of the rod with an eye on one end thereof from which is formedthe clamping member forming a part of the holder.

Referring to FIG. l of the drawing, there is shown a utility -pole 10having a cable 12 mounted thereon by means of a holder generallydesignated by the numeral 2t) and made in accordance with and embodyingthe principles of the present invention. The utility pole 10 istypically formed of wood and is generally conical in shape having thelarger end thereof dispos-ed in the ground and tapering upwardly to thesmaller end thereof which is disposed a substantial distance above theground. The utility pole 10 further is substantially circular in crosssection at any point therealong and has a conical outer surface 11 whichalso is in the form of a circle at any cross section along the utilitypole 10. The cable 12 is generally cylindrical in shape and has acylindrical outer surface 14 which is generally circular in crosssection at any point therealong.

The holder 20 comprises two parts, namely, a fastening member 3h and aclamping member Si) which interconnect and cooperate securely to mountthe cable 12 upon the utility pole 10. The fastening member 30 includesan elongated shank 31 which is illustrated as generally cylindrical inshape and has a circular cross section and further is substantiallystraight. One end of the shank 31 is provided with a conical point 32 tofacilitate the driving of the shank 31 into the utility pole 10. Theother end of the shank 31 carries a generally U-shaped hook 33 whichincludes a rst arm 34, a second arm 35 and a connecting portion 36interconnecting the arms 34 and 35. The arm 34 has the longitudinal axisthereof disposed at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axisof the shank 31, the axis of the shank 31 being designated by thenumeral 37; more specifically, the longitudinal axis of the arm 34 isdisposed at an angle of about 25 with respect to the longitudinal axis37 of the shank 31. The axis of the arm 3S is not parallel to the axisof the arm 34 but is disposed at an angle with respect thereto and theinner surfaces of the arms 34 and 35 merge into a holding pocketdesignated by the numeral 38 on the inner surface 'of the connectingportion 36 to receive a part of the clamping member 50, all as will bedescribed more fully hereinafter. In short, the hook 33 is disposed atan angle with respect to the shank 31 and opens generally downwardlytoward the pointed end 32. The surface on the outer portion of the hook33 disposed the greatest distance from the shank 31 provides a drivesurface designated by the numeral 39, the drive surface 39 beingsubstantially in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the amasar.

shank 31 and providing a good target for driving the Shank 31 into theassociated utility pole 16.

The clamping member 50 is generally U-shaped and includes a first leg51, a second leg 52 and a connecting portion 53 interconnecting the legs51, and 52. The connecting portion 53 is formed substantially as asemicircle and the inner surface 54 thereof is also semi- Circular inshape and preferably has a radius of curvature slightly greater than theradius of the cable 12, whereby the major internal dimension of thesurface 54 measured across the outer ends thereof is greater than themajor dimension, i.e., the diameter, of the cable 12, so that the cable12 can be readily received Within the connecting 4portion 54 and betweenthe legs 51 and 52.

The leg 51 has one end thereof connected integral with one end of theconnecting portion 53 and extends out wardly therefrom a distance equalto at least about the major internal dimension of the connecting portion53. The outer end of the leg 51 has an eye 55 thereon formed by bendingthe outer end of the leg 51 to a substantially circular shape, the eye55 having an opening 56 centrally thereof which. receives the shank 31therethrough when the fastening member 3G and the clamping member Si)are assembled. The second leg S2 has one end thereof Connected integralwith the other end of the connecting portion 53 and extends outwardlytherefrom and beyond the eye 55 on the first leg 51. Preferably thelongitudinal axes of the legs S1 and 52 are disposed substantiallyparallel to each other, whereby when the shank 31 of the fasteningmember 30 is disposed in the eye 55 on the first leg 51, the second leg52 can be engaged in the hook 53 without deforming the clamping member5?, the longitudinal axes of the legs 51 and 52 being disposedsubstantially normal to the longitudinal axis 37 of the shank 31.

In mounting the cable 12 upon the utility pole 10 using the holder 20 ofthe present invention, the clamping member 50 is first placed around thecable 12 substantially in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1 of thedrawing, and the first leg 51 and the eye 55 are placed against theouter surface 11 of the pole 10 at the position that it is desired tomount the holder 29. The pointed end 32 of the fastening member 3@ isthen inserted through the opening 56 in the eye S5, and is driven intothe utility pole until the fastening member 30 is substantially in theposition illustrated in FIG. 1. If the second leg S2 is not in the hook33 at this time, it is now placed therein, whereby all of the parts arenow in the position illustrated in FIG. 1. The fastening member 30 cannow be further driven into the utility pole 10 by driving such as with ahammer striking the drive surface 39 until the parts are in the positionillustrated in FIG. 3. The connecting portion 33 is bendable andresilient so that as the shank 31 is driven into the utility pole 10with the cable 12 in the connecting portion 53 and the eye 55 againstthe outer surface 11 `of the utility pole 10, the hook 33 urges the legs51 and 52 toward each other to bend the connecting portion 53 about thecable 12 to grip the cable 12 between the connecting portion 53 and thelegs 51 and 52 as is illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawing. Morespecifically, the driving of the hook 33 toward the surface 11 of theutility pole 10 bends the connecting portion 53 by pushing the leg 52toward the leg 51, the internal surface 54- of the connecting portion 53being forced about and into contact with the outer surface 14 of thecable 12. With the parts in the position illustrated in FIG. 3, it isclear that the cable 12 is firmly gripped by the connecting portion 53and the legs 51-52 so that the cable 12 is held in a fixed positionrelativeAto the utility pole 10.

If it is desired to remove the holder from its engaged position withrespect to the utility pole 10 and the cable 12, it is necessary only towithdraw the fastening member from the utility pole 1) after which thelegs 51 and 52 will spring back to the fully open position thereofillustrated in FIG. 1, The cable 12 can then be readily removed since itno longer is gripped by the clamping member 53. In passing it is notedthat the fastening member 30 can be easily driven due to the alignmentof the drive surface 39 with the longitudinal axis 37 of the shank 31;furthermore, the driving of the fastening member 30 can be done withsafety since the user may hold and steady the holder 20 by grasping theclamping member 50 at a point remote from the drive surface 39 duringthe driving of the fastening member 3i).

There is illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawing the rod from which theclamping member is formed, the rod being generally designated by thenumeral 57 and being substantially straight and provided at one end Withthe eye 55 which is formed by bending one end of the rod 57 into acircular form and back upon itself. The fastening member 3d is alsoformed of a simple straight rod shaped to provide the various parts ofthe fastening member 3) described above.

In a typical illustrative example of the holder 20 useful in mounting acable 12 having a one inch diameter upon a utility pole 10, the partshave the following dimensions; the diameter of the rod from which thefastening member 33 is formed is 1MM; the overall length of thefastening member 30 from the tip of the point 32 to the drive surface 39is 31i; the length of the point 32 is '/s; the opening in the hook 33 is1A wide; the diameter of the rod from which the clamping member 50 isformed is 0.135; the overall dimension of the clamping member 5G fromthe outermost point of the connecting portion 53 to the outer end of theleg 52 is 31i"; the maximum internal dimension of the connection portion53 is 11s; the overall length of the leg 51 is .2/16"; the overalllength of the leg 52 is 21/2; and the diameter of the opening 56 isabout 1A While there has been described what is at present considered tobe the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood thatvarious modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to coverin the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the truespirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A holder for mounting a cable on a utility pole, comprising afastening member and a clamping member, said fastening member includingan elongated shank having one end thereof pointed for driving into anassociated utility pole for mounting said holder thereon, a generallyU-shaped hook at the other end of said shank opening toward said pointedend, the surface on the outer portion of said hook disposed the greatestdistance from said shank being substantially in alignment with thelongitudinal axis of said shank and providing a drive surface fordriving said shank into lthe associated utility pole, said clampingmember being generally U-shaped and including a first leg and a secondleg and a connecting portion interconnecting said legs, the majorinternal dimension of the associated cable to receive the cable thereinand between said legs, said first leg extending outwardly beyond saidconnecting portion a distance equal to at least about said majorinternal dimension, an eye on the outer end of said first leg receivingsaid shank therethrough, said second leg extending outwardly beyond saideye and engaging in said hook, said connecting portion being bendableand resilient so that as said shank is driven into an associated utilitypole with a cable in said connecting portion and said eye against theutility pole said hook urges said legs toward each other to bend saidconnecting portion about the cable to grip the cable between saidconnecting portion and said legs.

2. The holder set forth in claim 1, wherein both said fastening memberand said clamping member are formed from metal rods of substantiallycircular cross section bent to provide the various parts thereof.

3. A holder for mounting a cable on a utility pole, comprising afastening member and a clamping member,

said fastening member including an elongated shank having one endthereof pointed for driving into an associated utility pole for mountingsaid holder thereon, a generally U-shaped hook at the other end of saidshank opening toward said pointed end, said hook including a first armconnected to said shank and a second arm spaced from said first arm,said first arm having the longitudinal axis thereof disposed at an acuteangle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said shank so that theinner portion of said hook disposed farthest away from said shank is ingeneral axial alignment with said shank, the surface on the outerportion of said hook disposed the greatest distance from said shankbeing substantially in alignment with the longitudinal axis of saidshank and providing a drive surface for driving said shank into theassociated utility pole, said clamping member being generally U- shapedand including a first leg and a second leg and a connecting portioninterconnecting said legs, the major internal dimension of saidconnecting portion being slightly greater than the major dimension ofthe associated cable to receive the cable therein and between said legs,said first leg extending outwardly beyond said connecting portion adistance equal to at least about said major internal dimension, an eyeon the outer end of said first leg receiving said shank therethrough,said second leg extending outwardly beyond said eye and engaging in saidhook, said connecting portion being bendable and resilient so that assaid shank is driven into an associated utility pole with a cable insaid connecting portion and said eye against the utility pole said hookurges said legs toward each other to bend said connecting portion aboutthe cable to grip the cable between said connecting portion and saidlegs.

4. A holder for mounting a cable on a utility pole, comprising afastening member and a clamping member, said fastening member includingan elongated shank having one end thereof pointed for driving into anassociated utility pole for mounting said holder thereon, a generallyU-shaped hook at the other end of said shank opening toward said pointedend, said hook including a first arm connected to said shank and asecond arm spaced from said first arm, said first arm having thelongitudinal axis thereof disposed at an acute angle with respect to thelongitudinal axis of said shank so that the inner portion of said hookdisposed farthest away from said shank is in general axial alignmentwith said shank, the surface on the outer portion of said hook disposedthe greatest distance from said shank being substantially in alignmentwith the longitudinal axis of said shank and providing a drive surfacefor driving said shank into the .associated utility pole, said clampingmember being generally U- shaped and including a first leg and a secondleg and a connecting portion interconnecting said legs, the majorinternal dimension of said connecting portion being slightly greaterthan the maior dimension of the associated cable to receive the cabletherein and between said legs, said first leg extending outwardly beyondsaid connecting portion a distance equal to at least about said majorinternal dimension, an eye on the outer end of said first leg receivingsaid shank therethrough, said second leg extending outwardly beyond saideye and engaging in said hook, said legs in the normal position thereofbeing disposed substantially parallel and both having the longitudinalaxes thereof disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis ofsaid shank, said connecting portion being bendable and resilient so thatas said shank is driven into an associated utility pole with a cable insaid connecting portion and said eye against the utility pole said hookurges said legs toward each other to bend said connecting portion aboutthe cable to grip the cable between said connecting portion Iand saidlegs.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,735,939 11/29John 248-71 2,642,242 6/53 Kan'tzky 248-71 2,885,169 5/59 Thiel 248-71FOREIGN PATENTS 1,157,186 12/57 France.

1,286,600 l/62 France.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

1. A HOLDER FOR MOUNTING A CABLE ON A UTILITY POLE, COMPRISING AFASTENING MEMBER AND A CLAMPING MEMBER, SAID FASTENING MEMBER INCLUDINGAN ELONGATED SHANK HAVING ONE END THEREOF POINTED FOR DRIVING INTO ANASSOCIATED UTILITY POLE FOR MOUNTING SAID HOLDER THEREON, A GENERALLYU-SHAPED HOOK AT THE OTHER END OF SAID SHANK OPENING TOWARD SAID POINTEDEND, THE SURFACE ON THE OUTER PORTION OF SAID HOOK DISPOSED THE GREATESTDISTANCE FROM SAID SHANK BEING SUBSTANTIALLY IN ALIGNMENT WITH THELONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID SHANK AND PROVIDING A DRIVE SURFACE FORDRIVING SAID SHANK INTO THE ASSOCIATED UTILITY POLE, SAID CLAMPINGMEMBER BEING GENERALLY U-SHAPED AND INCLUDING A FIRST LEG AND A SECONDLEG AND A CONNEDTING PORTION INTERCONNECTING SAID LEGS, THE MAJORINTERNAL DIMENSION OF THE ASSOCIATED CABLE TO RECEIVE THE CABLE THEREINAND BETWEEN SAID LEGS, SAID FIRST LEG EXTENDING OUTWARDLY BEYOND SAIDCONNECTING PORTION A DISTANCE EQUAL TO AT LEAST ABOUT SAID MAJORINTERNAL DIMENSION, AN EYE ON THE OUTER END OF SAID FIRST LEG RECEIVINGSAID SHANK THERETHROUGH, SAID SECOND LEG EXTENDING OUTWARDLY BEYOND SAIDEYE AND ENGAGING IN SAID HOOK, SAID CONNECTING PORTION BEING BENDABLEAND RESILIENT SO THAT AS SAID SHANK IS DRIVEN INTO AN ASSOCIATED UTILITYPOLE WITH A CABLE IN SAID CONNECTING PORTION AND SAID EYE AGAINST THEUTILITY POLE SAID HOOL URGES SAID LEGS TOWARD EACH OTHER TO BEND SAIDCONNECTING PORTION ABOUT THE CABLE TO GRIP THE CABLE BETWEEN SAIDCONNECTING PORTION AND SAID LEGS.